Reviews by kkipple:

Had to get one of these ever popular little 32oz growlers of Dark Helmet from my main man Wes at Green's. $5.50 fer the fill.

A. Clear and rich brown color, black if you put it in a fat enough goblet. Small head, some tan lace sticks. What little there is produces an oil-slick looking tan contrast on the dark beer. Does have those ruby colored highlights that the BJCP looks for, if you're into that sort of thing.

S. Excellent and full sweet-roast nose, perhaps a little sweeter than the style calls for, but good all the same. Chocolately, clean and a little spicy from the hops and (I discovered later) a 10% rye addition. It works very well, the dominant sweet pumpernickel bread nose and the lesser rustic spice note with a hint of herbal hop.

T. As advertised, but if you judge this against the 'classic' style, it's a bit sweeter and more additive with the hops and rye... I like it. It doesn't deviate from the style to be unrecognizable, nor does it slavishly try to be a classic example - this is new, delicious and works. The short version: an easily drinkable dark semi-sweet roasty and chocolate tasting beer with character to spare.

M / O. Terrific mouthfeel, light and wet with excellent carbonation off the tap - medium-full and complimentary. Finish is long gentle smooth roast and sweet-tasty. Kiss of bitterness at the very end. Dark Helmet is extremely easy to drink.

Why is Dark Helmet good? Schwarzbier is one of those rather obscure styles that never seems to get any attention, so it is a great thing for me that one is being made 2 hours from my house. This is an excellent twist on a classic style and one you should try. I wouldn't change a thing.

More User Reviews:

Poured into a 1/2 liter stein a deep garnet color with nice looking fluffy beige head atop.Aromas dark roast coffee and a light earthy note.Flavors deep dark roasted coffee,unsweetened chocolate with a bit of roasted red pepper and caramel in the finish.A really nice black lager,not to sweet and or roasted,all come together very well.

22 oz bottle with a bottled on date stamp of 25 Sept. 2014.
Pours very dark brown, looking nearly black and opaque in my snifter.
The head is small but durable.
The aroma is OK but certainly the weak point of this beer. The flavor and feel are about average (flavor) or better (feel) for style. Mildly bitter.

Poured from the tap into a pint glass. The appearance is a deep brown color with a large tan head. The aroma is big on malt with roasted malt and some spice tossed in for good measure. The flavor is spiced cocoa with hops mixed in. Overall a really interesting beer that I would drink again.